THE RELEASE OF ALAN JOHNSTON
The release of the BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is very welcome, despite the propaganda it served for Hamas in freeing him. He'd been held for 114 days in conditions he described as "like being buried alive" by the Army of Islam group, the heavily armed Doghmush family clan which is both linked to Al Qaeda and criminality.
Mr Johnston was released into the hands of Hamas leader and former Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh (still PM in his organization's eyes), in what was designed as a public demonstration of the group's authority in Gaza following its recent routing of the Fatah forces of President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas is determined to show that its writ runs in the beleaguered territory, and, just as importantly, as a spokesman insisted, that it "is serious in imposing security and stability". The group also suggested the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas-allied militants last year, could be freed next, although, true to form, adding that Israel must release hundreds more Palestinian prisoners. Some good sign, although Hamas has made clear it has no intention of disarming the Army of Islam. Hamas will have to do much more to convince of its bona fides as a partner in peace.
Mr Johnston's kidnap has raised once again the issue of the vulnerability of journalists in conflict zones and in states where democratic values remain precarious. Often they are easy targets because they guarantee international media attention. The NGO Frontline records some of the attacks in the last month alone: on June 22nd, investigative journalist Iren Karman was brutally attacked on the outskirts of Budapest; on June 20th in Yemen's capital Sana'a, journalist Abdul-Karim al-Khaiwani was arrested and beaten for oppositional activities.
In Istanbul the trial opened on Tuesday of those accused of murdering Hrant Dink, editor of Agos, killed because he was prepared to challenge Turkish silence on the Armenian genocide. Yet, ironically, as it prosecutes his alleged killers, the Turkish state has also initiated the prosecution of his son, Arat Dink, and three other Argos journalists for "insulting Turkish identity" under article 301 of the criminal code.
In Iraq two journalists from a Sunni TV station have been killed in the last four weeks. According to the International News Safety Institute, since the US invasion, at least 82 journalists have been kidnapped in Iraq. Of those, 28 have been killed and six are still being held. Some 47 journalists have been freed and the condition of one is unknown. At least 29 journalists are being held by kidnappers worldwide. In all 1,000 news media personnel around the world have been killed trying to report the news over the past 10 years.
Last year the UN Security Council (Resolution 1738), required states to regard journalists as civilian non-combatants and protect them accordingly. A worthy gesture, but it would be unwise to rely on it.
- The Irish Times
ARMENIA STILL NEEDS RUSSIA AS MILITARY PARTNER
By Nana PetrosianYesterday, RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian stated that Armenia still needs Russia to be its military partner that secures its safety. In the interview to "Reuters," Mr. Sargsian said that the threat ...GREAT EXPECTATIONS FROM "GOLDEN APRICOT" FORTH FILM FESTIVAL
By Tamar MiansianOn June 9, before the official opening of "Golden Apricot" forth Film Festival, the chairmen of the festival's juries represented their expectations from the festival to the journalists. Chong Soung An, ...ARA ABRAHAMIAN: "DIASPORA NEEDS STRONGER ARMENIA, BUT ARMENIA WILL BE STRONGER IF DIASPORA IS BY ITS SIDE"
By Aghavni Harutyunian
On June 9 started the two-day All Armenian titled "The challenges of the 21st century and the Armenian youth". The participants of the Conference first of all visited Tsitsernakaberd and the Armenian ...ZH. SEFILIAN AND V. MALKHASIAN SUGGEST TO ORGANIZE PUBLIC TRIAL
By Gohar Gevorgian 5Zhirayr Sefilian, coordinator of "Union of Armenian Volunteers" and "Defense of Liberated Territories" NGO and Vadan Malkhasian, member of the abovementioned organizations, are imprisoned for already ...AAEF RENDERS ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIAN VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
By Nana PetrosianRA Science and Education ministry and the Anushavan Abrahamian Educational Fund (AAEF) signed an agreement, according to which the latter commits to continue rendering assistance to the Armenian vocational ...THREE MEN MURDERED AT YEREVAN CEMETERY
By Marieta MakarianArmenian police said three young men were killed on Saturday, July 7, at a Yerevan cemetery. One of the killed men was identified as Artavazd Vardanian, 33. His body was found on his father's gravestone ...THIEVES STOLE SEVERAL WORKS BY WORLD-KNOWN ARMENIAN PAINTERS FROM APARTMENT IN MOSCOW
By Nana PetrosianA 71 year-old private collector reported to one of the Moscow police departments that the thieves had stolen the paintings by Ivan Ayvazovsky's from his apartment. Police said overall 13 paintings by ...THE RELEASE OF ALAN JOHNSTON
The Irish TimesThe release of the BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is very welcome, despite the propaganda it served for Hamas in freeing him. He'd been held for 114 days in conditions he described as "like being ...
ZH. SEFILIAN AND V. MALKHASIAN SUGGEST TO ORGANIZE PUBLIC TRIAL
By Gohar Gevorgian
ECONOMY OF ARMENIA REMAINS "COMPETITIVE ON THE WHOLE"
By Ara MartirosianSTRATFOR: "USA AND RUSSIA USE THE CONFLICT TO STRENGTHEN THEIR POSITIONS IN THE REGION"
By Aghavni HarutyunianASHES OF ALEK AND MARY MANOUKIANS TO BE BROUGHT TO ARMENIA
By Marieta MakarianTHE LEADER OF THE SKINHEADS "TEOSAK" ARRESTED
THE ARMENIAN CAPTIVE WANTS TO GO TO RUSSIA?
MAMEDIAROV WANTS TO VISIT SHOUSHI AS EASILY AS GOUBA
By Aghavni HaroutiunianOPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES OF "GOLDEN APRICOT" FILM FESTIVAL TO TAKE PLACE ON LIBERTY SQUARE
By R. PogosianARKADI GHUKASIAN: "THE SETTLEMENT IS POSSIBLE IF THERE IS AN AGREEMENT ON PUTTING AN END TO MILITARY ACTIONS AND ARMED CONFLICT"
By Aghavni Harutyunian.GORAN LENNMARKER: "THE NEW WAR BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN IS INCONCEIVABLE"
By Nana Petrosian
- 1706 First publication of the "Harsmavoork" periodical in Grigor Marzovantsi's publishing house (Constantinople).
- 1886 Birth of Missak Metsarents (poet). He died in 1908.
- 1904 The Mossoon and Zor battles took place under the leadership of Gayl Vahan and Mihran.
- 1905 After the defeat of Russian forces in the Russo - Japanese War, the Tsar proclaimed an edict on the confiscation of the Etshmiadsin church estates.
- 1906 Death of Heinrich Geltser, German armenologist. He was born in 1847.
- 1906 Death of the German armenologist Heinrich Helzer. He was born in 1847.
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